Flush top rider chain for floor conveyers



Sept. 14, 1954 E, MULLEN ETAL 2,689,036

FLUSH TOP RIDER CHAIN FOR FLOOR CONVEYERS Filed March 23, 1950 IN VENTOR. 0 WHRO Ml/ll EN P1404 Kl AMP BY ATTOR/Vd'f" Patented Sept. 14, 1954FLUSH TOP RIDER CHAIN FOR FLOOR CONVEYERS Edward Mullen and Paul Klamp,Detroit, Mich., assignors to Mechanical Handling Systems, Inc., Detroit,Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application March 23, 1950, Serial No.151,422

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a floor type conveyor chain wherein tensionlinks are integrally formed to ride along the upper surface of laterallyspaced members of a chain track and to cover the central opening betweensuch members. It has for its principal object to adapt the Keystone orrivetless type of chain, widely used in the conveyor industry, toprovide desired self-supporting and covering characteristics while atthe same time incorporating vertical flexibility and economy ofmanufacture through the use of rivetless chain constructional features.

In a prior application, Serial No. 7,316, a floor type conveyor chain ofthe roller type is disclosed wherein upper side links are adapted tospan and completely cover a floor chain track and wherein center rollerson vertical axes are adapted to bear laterally against either side ofthe track and to provide anti-friction bearings in passing aroundhorizontal curves in the conveyor track. Such construction, While highlyeffective for some applications, is subject to certain limitationsincluding a lack of vertical flexibility such as may be required if theconveyor is required to travel up inclined slopes, e. g., in moving fromone floor to another or in moving up any inclined ramp to reach a newlevel. Furthermore, such prior floor chain is relatively expensive ascompared to the widely used rivetless construction. This latterconsideration is a particularly significant factor when the chain isrequired to travel only along straight line reaches, other than inpassing around drive and idler sprockets, and therefore realizes noappreciable benefit from the antifriction rollers.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention tomodify the common rivetless chain construction in a manner adapting itfor a floor chain use.

Another object is to provide such chain with track spanning, coveringand flush top characteristics.

Another object is to adapt such chain to provide a substantial degree ofvertical flexibility.

Another object is to provide a specia1 construction for the uppermostside bar of the rivetless chain adapted to slide on a floor track andprovide flush and covering characteristics.

Another object is to provide a special center link construction for suchrivetless chain which includes a central extension to the uppermostsurface of the chain adapted to span and ride on the top surface of thetrack and to cover the intermediate space between arcuate ends ofadjacent upper side bars.

Another object is to incorporate appropriate clearance between suchcenter link extension and of the drawings forming a part of the presentapplication, wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of the assembled chain andtrack;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section of the assembled chain andtrack;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the chain and track taken along theline 3--3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the special center link employed in such chain.

Referring to Figs. 1-3, it will be seen that a chain-on-edge position isemployed. The chain is comprised of lower side bar elements ID, upperside bar elements ll, center links l2, headed locking pins l3, retainingcaps l4 and nuts I5.

The lower side bar element It is of conventional rivetless chainconstruction having transverse recesses I6 adapted to receive either theheaded end of the locking pin [3 or a retaining cap such as 14.

The upper side bar element II is especially constructed with a laterallyextending flange I! having semi-circular ends I8 and a width sufficientto span the center opening between opposed channel track members [9. Theupper surface of the flange ll lies in a single substantially continuousflat plane broken only by rectangular recesses 20, which extend down tohorizontal seats 2|, each adapted to receive the rectangular head of alocking pin [3. These links are forged with continuous dependingstrengthening webs 22 extending longitudinally between open socketportions 23, each having a cylindrical opening 24 adapted to pass thecylindrical shank 25 of a 10cking pin I3.

The special center link I2 is adapted to be manufactured as a forgingand is provided with ends closely resembling those of a standardrivetless center link, having semi-cylindrical surfaces for engaging thecentral portion of the cylindrical shanks of the locking pins l3.However, the central portion of the center link departs fromconventional center link construction in that the side walls of the linkare each provided with integral upward extensions 26, which connect witha cross-bridge portion 21 adapted to span the channel members I9 of thetrack and having arcuate recesses 28 conforming generally to thesemi-cylindrical ends it of the upper side bars II. This bridge portionof the center link has an upper surface I! of the side bars H in orderto provide a substantially continuous flush top cover for the entirechain track. However,

referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a sufiicient clearance 29 is providedbetween the ends of the side bars H and the bridge portion 2'! of thecenter link, as well as between the center links and side bars wherethey engage the locking pin i3, as shown at 38 and 3!, to accommodate alimited articulation of the chain links in a vertical longitudinalplane.

The chain assembly is adapted to incorporate pusher dogs 32 forreceiving and trapping the drive pin or a floor truck or any other loadwhich is desired to be propelled by the floor chain. Such pusher dogsare pivotally connected at 33 to laterally spaced trunnions 34 formedinteprovides a modified rivetless type of construction for use as a dragchain in a manner which meets each of the objects set forth above.

While a particular construction has been shown and described in detail,it will be understood that 1 various changes in the component elementsmight be resorted to without departing from the scope of the presentinvention as defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. In combination with a submerged floor chain track having opposedwalls defining an opening for accommodating a conveyor chain andsupporting surfaces on either side of said opening, a conveyor chain ofthe rivetless type having vertically spaced side bar links connected toan intermediate center link by a headed looking pin, all of theuppermost of said side bar links being provided with integral flangesadaptedv to ride on the supporting surfaces of said track, and all ofthe center links having upward extensions integrally joined to a bridgemember adapted to span the opening between the chain supporting surfacesof said track.

2. In combination with a submerged fioor chain track having opposedwalls defining an opening for accommodating a conveyor chain andsupporting surfaces on eitherside of .said opening, a conveyor chain ofthe rivetless type having vertically spaced side bar links connected toan intermediate center link by a headed locking pin, all of theuppermost of said side bar links being provided with integral flangesadapted to ride on the supporting surfaces of said track, and all of thecenter links havingupward extensions integrally joined to a bridgemember adapted to span the opening between the chain supporting surfacesof said track, said upper side bar links being provided withsemi-circular ends and said bridge portion of the center link beinprovided witharcuate recesses for accommodating said ends.

3. In combination with a submerged floor chain track having opposedwalls defining an opening for accommodating a conveyor chain and,supporting surfaces on either side of said opening, a conveyor chain ofthe rivetless type having vertically spaced side bar links connected toan intermediate'center link by a headed locking pin, all of theuppermost of said side bar links being provided with integral flangesadapted to ride on the supporting surfaces of said track, and all of thecenter links having upward extensions integrally joined to a bridgemember adapted to span the opening between the chain supporting surfacesof said track, clearance being provided between the bridge portion ofsaid center link and adjacent end portions of the upper side bar linksand between the respective side bar elements and center link whereengaged by said connecting pin to accommodate a substantial degree ofchain flexibility in a vertical plane 4. In combination with a submergedfloor chain track having opposed walls for defining an opening andaccommodating a conveyor chain and chain supporting surfaces on eitherside of said opening, a conveyor chain of the rivetless type havingvertically spaced side bars connected at either end to a center link bya headed looking pin, all of the uppermost side bars bein formed withintegral flanges adapted to span said opening and ride on said chainsupporting surfaces and all of said center links having upvvardlyextending portions integrally j 'dined to a bridging portion adapted toextend between adjacent ends of upper side bar links, the upper surfaceof said upper side bar links and the upper surface of the bridgingportion of said center links being constructed to lie in substantiallythe same plane and provide a flush upper surface for the chain.

5. A conveyor chain ofthe rivetless type, including upper and lower sidebar links joined at each end to a center link by a headed connectingpin, characterized by all 'of the upper side bar links being formed withintegral laterally spaced flanges substantially exceeding the width ofthe lower sidebar links and all of the center links being integrallyformed with upwardly extending portions and a bridging portion, saidbridg-' ing, portion being adapted to extend between adjacent ends ofsaid side bar links.

6. A conveyor chain of thev rivetless type, including upper and lowerside bar links joined at each end to a center link by aheaded connectingpin, characterized by all of the upper side bar links being formed withlaterally spaced flanges substantially exceeding the Width of the lowerside bar links and all of the center links being formed with upwardlyextending portions and a bridging portion, said bridging portion beingadapted to extend between adjacent ends of said side bar links, saidupper side bar ends and said bridging portion of said center links beingformed with arcuate curves having centers at the pivotal connections andbeing provided with clearance adapted to accommodate a substantialdegree of fiexure in a plane passing through the axes of the connectingpins.

References Cited in the file of this patent

